Cam mechanism



July 14, 1.931. s. HLIINT 1,814,313

CAM MECHANISM I? 79 SYDNEY HUNT,

- His ,4mm/16 July 14, 1931. v s. HUNT y 1,814,313 Y GAM MECHANISM Filed Jan. '3, 1928 2 sheets-Sheet 2 x /M/f/Wa SYDNEY HUNT,

fr/M042 Hi8 4770P//5 B Patented July 14, 1931 NETE@ STATES asians SYDNEY HUNT, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, .ASSIGNOR TO JOHN W'ALKER 8c ONS LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A. BRETISI COMPANY CAM MECHANISM Application filed January 3, 1928, Serial No. 244,355, and indGreatrrta-n June 22, im

rlhis invention relates to rotary machines for the manufacture of blown glass articles such as bottles.

Machines of this description are usually provided with a number of unit mechanisms rotatable about a fixed central column or kits equivalent, each unit mechanism being adapted to carry through the steps in the manufacture of an article suchas a bottle from the time when the molten glass is gathered as a parison to the time when the blown bottle is delivered from the finishing or blowing mould. i

It is necessary or desirable with such rotary bottle making machines to malreprovision for the manufacture on one unit of a bottle of one `size and on other units of bottles of other sizes in order to enhance the elliciency and adaptability lof the machine.

In the process of manufacturing a bottle or the like it is necessary to open and close the blowing or equivalent valve on each unit on one or more occasions for instance for effecting a preliminary blowing and for effecting the final blowing of the bottle in the finishing mould but with the 'usual construction of rotary machines of the type in question, the blowing valves on all the units are operated from a single cam mounted on the fixed central column and differential operation of the valves of the various units is rendered impossible, although provision has been made for adjusting the cam itself for blowing bottles of required sizes on all the units. i

In some cases it has been proposed to provide a stepped cam or a series of cams arranged in steps, the blowing valve of each unit being operated by a follower lever, adapted to oscillate in a plane passing through the axis of the cam and the bowl' or roller on the lever being adjustable to any of the steps, the contour of the cam at each step being formed for a bottle of a particular size.

A defect of this arrangement'is that as the roller on the follower lever is adjusted into different positions to co-operate with different steps of the cam, the stroke transmitted or amount of oscillation varies for a given amount of cam projection, causing variations in the operation of the valve and necessitating dillicult adjustments for transmitting the particular amount of stroke required from each step according to the particular kind of bottle being blown.

The object of the present invention is so -to construct and arrange the mechanism and a constant stroke transmitted to the tappet or equivalent device operating the valve.

According to the general principle of the invention, the follower lever is so mounted that it. oscillates about an axis parallel to the axis ofthe caIn and the follower roller j or bowl is so mounted with respect to the" follower lever that it can be adjusted to cooperate with any step or portion of the cam, or the lever itself may be mounted so that it can be adjustedV to bring the follower 39 roller into co-operation with any step or portion of the cam or both such arrangements may be adopted concurrently.

lWhere it is required to tran-smit 'the motion to the tappet or the like of the blow- 3 ing valve indirectly by means for instance of a secondary lever oscillating in a (liften ent plane to the follower lever means added for ensuring that the strolio shall still remain constant and for this purpose various expedients may be adopted in the case where the adjustment of the follower roller to various steps of the cam is effected bv adjustment of the follower lever itself into various positions.

For instance where the follower lever oscillates in a horizontal plane and the lever from which the Valve is operated oscillates in a vertical plane, in order Ato preserve uniforniity of strolre it is necessary to adopt a im construction in which the point of contact between the follower lever and the vert-ical lever is always at a constant effective distance from the fulcrum of the latter.

To effect this a vertical plate or the like is mounted in a suitable position on the follower lever with the surface of which a screw or tappet on the co-operating end of the vertical lever comes into contact.

lVhere the secondary lever oscillat-es in a plane parallel to the plane of oscillation of the first lever the vertical plate or the like may be located on either of the levers; and by treating the secondary lever as an intermeciate lever a constant stroke may be transmitted to a third lever arranged at any angle for operating the valve tappet or the like through a constant distance.

ln order that the invention may be more clearly understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which shew various constructional embodiments of follower mechanisms adapted to co-operate with the steps of a stepped cam for controlling the opening of the blowing valve for blowing the glass article.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the said mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. t is a plan..

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional elevation illustrating the co-operation between the follower mechanism and the stepped cam, according to one constructional embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. l shewing another construction.

Figs. 6 and 7 shew details of constructions associated with the mechanisms illustrated at Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary somewhat diagrannnatic elevation of a portion of a glass blowing machine embodyingthe invention, parts being shown in section.

The machine, to which the invention will will now be described as applied, is one of the type comprising a fixed central column 12 upon which the stepped cam 13 for controlling the blowing valve 14 is mounted, and ha'ing a framework 15 adapted' to rotate about the said central column 12, such framework including a plurality of units, not shewn, for the manufacture of bottles, which may, if desired, be of different desciptions.

rlhe follower mechanism, adaptedto cooperate with the stepped cam 13, includes a lever 16 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and rotatable about a vertical axis 17 parallel to the principal axis 18 of rotation of the machine. This follower lever 1G carries at its free end a spindle 22 for a roller 19 constituting the follower roller or bowl proper. The lever 1G is mounted upon a vertical post. or spindle 20 in a bracket or casting 21 attached in any appropriate manner to the rotatable framework of the machine.

According to one construction as shewn in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the pin 22 carrying the follower proper 19 may be of such length that a number of interchangeable members can be mounted thereon. Each of these interchangeable members comprises a sleeve 23 with a circumferential fiange forming the follower roller 19, and this flange is located in different positions on the sleeve, on the various interchangeable members, see Figs. 5, G and 7, so that by selecting the proper member and placing it on the pin 22, the flange constitutes the follower roller 19 for any one of the steps of the cam 13. For any particular required stroke of the valve however, the rollers or flanges 19 are always of the same diameter, the result being that for a given amount of cam pro-z jection at any step, the follower' lever 16 is oscillated through a constant angle about its pivot 2 0 and a constant stroke is transmitted to the part to be operated as hereinafter explained. There interchangeable follower rollers are provided in the form of flanged sleeves, in the case ofr a five stepped cam 13, as shewn in Fig. 5, it will only be necessary to provide three interchangeable members` such as shewn in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, one of these members, Fig. 6, having a projecting flange at its middle, another (Fig. 5) having a rejecting flange towards one end,

and the third (Fig. 7 having a projectingflw flange between one end and the middle, the first of these members when set into posi tion co-operating with the middle step 2Ll of the cam 13, the second with the first or lastvstep 25 or 2G respectively, accordingy to the way it is mounted on the pin 22, and the third with the second or fourth'step 27 or 28 respectively, also according to the way it ismounted on Vthe pin 22.

As a further development, the pin 22 for'`v carrying, the follower' proper 19 may be mounted on the other side of the lever 1G, (as shewn dotted in Fig. fl) and thus by the use of interchangeable members the follower may be enabled to co-operatc with afl; i.;

further number of steps and in the particular case under consideration a further five 'llO steps couldbe provided, bythe use of thev i same three interchangeable members Figs.

5, 6 and 7, making a machine with ten dis-Cirie tinct cams for` operating the blowing valve, but in all cases with follower rollers of the same diameter, the stroke' transmitted by the same amount of cam projection at any one of the steps would be similar to that' transmitted at any other of the steps.

In place of providing a set of interchangeable members for constituting the follower roller proper, a single member might beA provided and packing or distance sleeves or rings threaded on to the pin 22, in order to bring the follower 1Q to the correct level to correspond with the required step.

According to another and advantageous construction, the lever 16 itself may be mounted so that it can be raisedv and low- `ered vertically and maintained at the desired levels for bringing the follower 19 carried thereby into the correct position for cri-operating vith any one of the steps.

In one method of effecting this, the post or spindle 20 (see Figs. 1 to 3 and carrying the lever 16 is provided with an enlarged upper portion resting upon the top of the carrier bracket 21, and this upper portion is of such length that the lever 16, which is formed with a boss 29, can be slidden vertically'thereon. A feather and feather way are provided between the bess 29 and the spindle 20, and the spindle is furnished with a desired number of Anotches 31, for instance live, at various levels. The lever boss 29 is extended on the other side to the lever arm carrying the follower proper, and is provided with a cap plate 32, between which and the eXtension of the boss a chamber is formed in which works a spring controlled plunger 33, cooperating with a pivoted locking lever 34, adapted to engage in any one of the before mentioned notches 31 on the lever spindle 20. This locking` lever 34 is extended 'to the outside, so that by suitably operating it, the lever 16 carrying the cam follower 1) can be set into and retained at any desired height. The notches 31 are so positioned that when engaged by the locking lever the follower 19 comes opposite a cam step. In this way, if there are five notches, the lever 16 can be brought into tive positions, and the follower 19, when carried on one side of the lever, into five corresponding positions, and when carried on the other side of the lever, as shown dotted in Fig.

into five more positions, making ten positions in all.

When the follower lever 16 is vertically adjustable into various positions, and the operation is transmitted through secondary mechanism to the part to-be operated, means must be added for ensuring that the valve tappet shall be moved through a constant distance. i

In the construction illustrated, a vertical fiat contact making plate such as 35 is provided in connection with the lever 16, from which plate the motion is transmitted to the mechanism operating the device to be controlled and as the contact between` the levers is at a constant distance from the fulcrum of the second lever, a constant stroke is obtained on the second lever and consequently for the valve. i

`In the detailed construction illustrated, 14 is the blowing valve provided with a stem such as 39 attached thereto.

36 projecting from the valve casing. Adapted to co-operate with this valve stem is a lever 37 turning upon a horizontal spindle 38 and carried from some liXed portion of the rotatable framework, or from a partum This lever 37 has two arms, one 40 of which is adapted to co--operate with the end of the stem 36 through an adjustable tappet 41.' The other end 42 of the lever may be also providedg;

with an adjustable screwed tappet 43 hav!"V ing an operating head 44 formed with a plurality of notches 45, and the lever 37 carries a hinged detent 46 adapted to engage in any one of the before mentioned S0 notches to hold the screwed tappet in" any required position.

The inner end of the last mentionedv i. screwed tappet co-operates with a follower lever 16, so that when the follower lever 16,435 is actuated by the cam, the valve controlling lever 37 is correspondingly operated to open the valve 14. A torsion spring 47 is mounted upon the horizontal spindle 88 carrying the valve operating lever37 and this, no spring tends to hold the said lever in con-H tact with the follower lever, and a spring return is provided for the valve.

Where the follower lever lalways os illates in the same plane, the valve controllinges lever 37 may of course be directly operated thereby, but where, as in the more practical constructions, in order to enable it to be actuated from various steps of the cam, the follower lever 16 is itself adjusted to various'i, 100 heights, previously explained', in orderv to preserve uniformity of stroke, the motion may be transmitted through a vertical face such as 85, making contact with the adjustable tappet 43 at the upper end ofplor, the valve controlling lever, the point to observe being that in this way the point of contact between the levers is always at a constant distance from the4 fulcrum of the second lever. 110

The Aconstruction for attaining an equivalent result may be such as those already mentioned.

It will be understood that the foregoingdetailed description of the Construdfiionat"4 embodiments of the invention and its application are given merely by way of example as the details may be varied considerably without departing from the principles of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the 'nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a machine for the manufacture of ,r glass articles, the combination with a Xed central column; of a framework mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said frame:-

iso

Y work and adapted to selectively cooperate with the several steps of the cam; a second lever rockable about an axis on said framework and transverse to the axis of the follower lever; operative connections between the two levers, a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and operative connections between the valve and the second lever.

p 2. In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles, the combination with a fixed central column; ofv a yframework mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said framework; a roller carried by said lever and provided with a flange for cooperating with a step of said cam to rock said lever, the flange being adapted to be adjustably positioned with respect to the cam for cooperation with any selected step: a second lever rockable about an axis on said framework and transverse to the axis of the follower lever; operative connections between the two levers; a valve for controlling the admission of air in t-he process of blowing glass articles; and operative connections between the valve and the second lever.

3. In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles, the combination with a fixed central column; of a framework mounted for-rotation about the column; a stepper cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said framework and longitudinally adjustable relative to said axis for cooperation with a selected step of the cam; a second lever rockable about an axis on said framework and transverse to the axis of the follower lever; operative connections between the two levers; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and operative connections between the valve and the second lever. e

4. In amachine for the manufacture of glass articles; the combination with a fixed central column; of a framework mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said framework and longitudinally adjustable relative to said axis for cooperation with a selected step of the cam; means for maintaining said lever in adjusted position on said axis; a second lever rockable about an axis on said frame.- work and transverse to theV axis of the follower lever; operative connections between the two levers; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and operative connections between the valve and the second lever.

5. In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles, the combination with a fixed central column; of a frame work mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said frame work and adaptedl to selectively cooperate with the several steps of the cam; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and a connection betwen said follower lever and said valve.

6. In a machine for the 'manufacture of glass articles; the combination with a fixed central column; of a frame work mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said frame work; a roller carried by said lever and adapted to selectively engage the several steps of the cam; means for adjusting the roller to a position in which it engages a desird step; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and a connection between said follower lever and said valve.

7 In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles, the combination with a fixed central column; of a frame work mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said frame work; a sleeve journalled on said lever for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the cam; a flange on said sleeve adapted to selectively engage the several steps ofthe cam, said sleeve being adjustable for bringing said flange into engagement with a selected cam step; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and a connection between said follower lever and said valve.

8. In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles; the combination with a fixed central column; of a frame work mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said frame work; a roller carried by said lever and adapted to selectively engage the several steps of the cam; means for adjusting the roller with respect to the follower lever to a position in which said roller engages a desired step; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and a connection between said follower lever and said valve.

9. In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles, the combination with a fixed central column; of a frame work mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on thel column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said frame work and adapted to selectively cooperate with the several steps of the cam; means for adjusting said lever in the direction of the axis of the cam to bring said lever into cooperative relation with a desired cam step; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles, and a connection between said follower lever and said valve.

l0. In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles, the combination with a fixed central column; of a frame work mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a spindle carried by said frame work and provided with a series of notches spaced apart at distances equivalent to the distance between cam steps; a follower lever having a boss mounted for sliding movements on said spindle; means carried by said follower lever and engageable with said notches for maintaining said lever in adjusted position on the spindle; said follower lever being adapted to selectively cooperate with the several steps of the cam; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and a connection between said follower lever and said valve.

1l. In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles, the combination with a fixed central column; of a frame workA mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable abouta fixed axis on said frame work and adapted to selectively cooperate with the several steps of the cam; a second lever rockable about a fixed axis on said yframe work and transverse to the axis of the follower lever; a connection between the two levers and always at the same distance from the axis of the second lever irrespective of the positions of said levers; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and connections between the valve and the second lever.

l2. In a machine for the manufacture of glass articles, the combination with a fixed central column; of a frame work mounted for rotation about the column; a stepped cam mounted on the column; a follower lever rockable about an axis on said frame work and adapted to selectively cooperate with the several steps of the cam; a second lever rockable about an axis on said frame work and transverse to the axis of the follower lever; a connection between the two levers and always at the same distance from the axis of the second lever irrespective of the positions of said levers, said connection Vcomprising a plate on one of said levers,

and a tappet on the other lever and in engagement with said plate; a valve for controlling the admission of air in the process of blowing glass articles; and connections between the valve and the second lever.

In witness whereof I'aflix my signature.

SYDNEY HUNT. 

